Keeping Loved Ones Together
My name is Vard R. Johnson. I have helped numerous couples navigate the complicated immigration system and obtain green cards. Even if you or your loved one entered the United States illegally, I will use my 45 years of legal experience to help you gain lawful status. Visit my office in Boston to discuss your situation with an experienced immigration attorney.
Obtaining a Green Card Through Marriage
Immigrants seeking green cards to marry U.S. citizens and U.S. citizens seeking to bring their fiancées to the country have specific needs. Because each situation is unique, it is important that you consult a skilled lawyer before taking any action. Sometimes, it is best for a couple to marry overseas. Other times, the marriage should take place here. I can help you determine which is best for your particular circumstance.
If you entered the United States illegally and then married an United States citizen, you may not be able to obtain a green card. It may be necessary for you to return to your home country and to then seek forgiveness (a waiver) for your unauthorized presence in the United States. I will help you and your spouse with the waiver and try to secure your return to the United States as quickly as possible.
Green Cards and Divorce
When the government grants a green card based on a marriage, it grants it conditionally if the marriage itself occurred less than two years earlier. In those situations, three months before the end of the second year of the green card, the couple needs to remove the condition by filing a joint petition with supporting documents, to show they still are married and are making a life together. Obviously, problems arise for the immigrant spouse if the marriage has ended in divorce or a divorce is pending or the U.S. citizen spouse refuses to participate in the filing. Fortunately, there are options for the immigrant spouse to pursue to remove the condition on his or her green card. I will examine your situation carefully and work with you to preserve your legal status.
Consult With an Experienced Massachusetts Immigration Lawyer
Do you need a marriage visa or a fiancé/fiancée visa? Contact me online or call me at 617-830-1392. My office is located in historic Boston, three blocks from the Immigration Court. I have received an AV Peer Review Rating* through Martindale-Hubbell for approximately 30 years.*
* CV, BV, and AV are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards, and policies.
